| Topic: | The President's Cake | |
| Posted by: | Susan Kelly | |
| Date/Time: | 26/02/26 17:06:00 |
| Iraq 1990. UN sanctions mean there is a shortage of basic foodstuffs and medicines. 9-year-old Lamia lives in the marshes with her grandmother, who has the most extraordinary face, as if it were made of leather. With Saddam's birthday approaching, Lamia draws the short straw and is told to make a cake for the birthday celebrations at her school. Where on earth is she to find sugar, flour, eggs and butter, or pay for them if she can find them? Her grandmother takes her into the city. They hitch-hike and are picked up by a very kindly postman. When Lamia learns that her grandmother is looking for a foster family for her, she runs away, accompanied by her pet rooster Hindi. She falls in with schoolfriend Saeed and the two tour the city looking for cake ingredients and ways to pay for them, ultimately bringing Lamia into danger. Meanwhile grandma, who has diabetes, ends up in a chaotic hospital which has no drugs to help her. The good postman takes her there and then goes to look for Lamia. The brainwashing which made the Iraqi people adore Saddam Hussein is Orwellian. |
| Topic | Date Posted | Posted By |
| Film Reviews 2026 | 11/01/26 16:48:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Hamnet | 11/01/26 16:53:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Re:Hamnet | 11/01/26 22:31:00 | Sara Nathan |
| The voice of Hind Rajab (Arabic with subtitles) | 11/01/26 22:33:00 | Sara Nathan |
| No Other Choice (Korean with subtitles) | 17/01/26 09:16:00 | Sara Nathan |
| Re:No Other Choice (Korean with subtitles) | 25/01/26 16:41:00 | Susan Kelly |
| 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple | 18/01/26 13:47:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Nouvelle Vague | 01/02/26 14:31:00 | Susan Kelly |
| If I had legs I’d kick you | 01/02/26 20:49:00 | Sara Nathan |
| Re:If I had legs I’d kick you | 25/02/26 17:56:00 | Susan Kelly |
| F1 | 02/02/26 22:13:00 | Sara Nathan |
| My Father's Shadow | 10/02/26 17:30:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Hamlet (not Hamnet) | 12/02/26 17:03:00 | Susan Kelly |
| The Secret Agent | 24/02/26 17:21:00 | Susan Kelly |
| The President's Cake | 26/02/26 17:06:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Sirat | 03/03/26 16:43:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Re:Sirat | 10/03/26 11:33:00 | Michael Robinson |
| Re:Re:Sirat | 06/04/26 21:07:00 | Sara Nathan |
| Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man | 15/03/26 15:16:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Mr Nobody against Putin (Russian with subtitles) | 19/03/26 21:48:00 | Sara Nathan |
| Good Boy | 24/03/26 15:40:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Everybody down to Kenmure Street | 26/03/26 20:43:00 | Sara Nathan |
| Midwinter Break | 31/03/26 17:21:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Re:Midwinter Break | 31/03/26 18:49:00 | Chris Hurley |
| The Love That Remains | 04/04/26 17:47:00 | Susan Kelly |
| The Drama | 05/04/26 14:32:00 | Susan Kelly |
| Re:The Drama | 06/04/26 21:03:00 | Sara Nathan |
| Amelie (French with subtitles) | 06/04/26 07:26:00 | Sara Nathan |